Communities across the state are taking on the issue, with some opting for outright bans and others setting different kinds of limits on data centers, which have become a political flashpoint in recent months.
Lexington leaders opted to press pause on all data center projects until October 31, and this Tuesday they'll hold a dedicated public hearing on the issue.
Draft regulations would bar the most controversial developments, known as hyperscale data centers, while reining in smaller developments. Aaron Mudd with CivicLex said one point of possible confusion should be cleared up before speakers take the mic.
"One important distinction, the proposed rules treat a server room differently from a data center. Businesses could still have computers and network equipment for their own operations as an accessory use," he says.
Discussions on council up to this point have focused on some common concerns regarding the noise, energy use, and environmental impacts, but he said other questions have popped up as well.
"District 1 Councilmember Tyler Morton has pointed out that many of the commercial and industrial areas where minor data centers could be allowed are concentrated in his district. He's questioned whether that distribution is fair and whether equity was considered," Mudd says. "There's also a broader question about what kind of data centers Lexington actually wants to allow. Vice Mayor Dan Wu has said he doesn't believe hyperscale data centers belong in Fayette County, while also pointing out that smaller data centers already serve local banks, hospitals, schools, and other institutions."
The meeting is set for 5:30 Tuesday night in the government center.
The council could take action as early as that evening, but it would have to go through the first and second reading process to be formally adopted.